Housing for drain outlet

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for protecting from freezing fluid flowing from a conduit outlet of a condensing gas furnace above ground level on an exterior wall of a building. The freeze protection apparatus comprises a heater box disposed within a housing, including thermal insulating material lining the interior surface of walls of the housing. A thermostatically controlled heater is mounted to the heater box for maintaining the interior chamber above freezing temperature to prevent condensate fluid from freezing. Means are provided for mounting the housing to structure adjacent the conduit outlet. Heat is retained within the housing to prevent condensate fluid within the conduit outlet from freezing.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for protecting from freezing fluid flowing from a conduit outlet above ground level on an exterior wall of a building, the freeze protection apparatus comprising: (a) a condensing gas furnace providing a continuous flow of condensate fluid through the conduit outlet; (b) a heater box having a longitudinal dimension, the heater box including a top wall, a front wall, and a plurality of side walls interconnecting the top wall and the front wall, wherein the heater box partially defines an enclosed area sized for covering the conduit outlet and having a rear aperture and a bottom aperture; (c) a housing adapted for receiving the heater box, the housing including a top wall, having an interior surface and an inner edge, a front wall having an interior surface, a bottom edge, and a lateral dimension, and, a pair of opposed side walls, each side wall having an interior surface, an inner edge, a bottom edge and a depth dimension, the side walls interconnecting the top wall and the front wall, wherein the housing has a longitudinal dimension greater than the longitudinal dimension of the heater box and partially defines an enclosed area having openings at a rear aperture for passing the heater box; (d) thermal insulating material lining the interior surface of the walls of the housing; (e) a thermostatically controlled electric heater mounted to the heater box for maintaining the enclosed area of the heater box above freezing temperature to prevent the condensate fluid from freezing; and (f) means for mounting the housing to the exterior wall adjacent the conduit outlet, wherein heat is retained within the heater box to prevent fluid within the conduit outlet from freezing. 
     
     
       2. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom wall spanning the side walls and the front wall inwardly longitudinally spaced from distal edges of the side walls and the front wall. 
     
     
       3. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the bottom wall is perforated to allow fluid to pass through. 
     
     
       4. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electric heater comprises a silicone pad heater. 
     
     
       5. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the inner edges of the side walls and the top wall of the housing contact the exterior wall. 
     
     
       6. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the bottom edges of the side walls and the front wall are configured to contact the ground at ground level below the conduit outlet for enclosing the conduit outlet within the enclosed area defined by the heater box, the exterior wall and the ground level. 
     
     
       7. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting means comprises flanges at the inner edges of the side wall and the top wall of the housing. 
     
     
       8. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting means comprises a hinge for hingedly securing the housing to the exterior wall for pivoting movement between an open position away from the conduit outlet and a closed position enclosing the conduit outlet. 
     
     
       9. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the pivot axis of the housing is about a substantially horizontal axis. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for protecting from freezing fluid flowing from a condensing gas furnace providing a continuous flow of condensate fluid through a trap, the freeze protection apparatus comprising: (a) a heater box having a longitudinal dimension, the heater box including a top wall, a front wall, and a plurality of side walls interconnecting the top wall and the front wall, wherein the heater box partially defines an enclosed area and having a rear aperture and a bottom aperture for receiving the trap into the enclosed area; (b) a housing adapted for receiving the heater box, the housing including a top wall having an interior surface and an inner edge, a front wall having an interior surface, a bottom edge and a lateral dimension, and a plurality of side walls, each side wall having an interior surface, an inner edge, a bottom edge and a depth dimension, the side walls interconnecting the top wall and the front wall, wherein the housing partially defines an enclosed area having openings at a rear aperture and a bottom aperture, and wherein the area of the bottom aperture defined by the lateral dimension of the front wall and the depth dimension of the side walls is configured for receiving the heater box; (c) thermal insulating material lining the interior surface of the walls of the housing; (d) a thermostatically controlled electric heater mounted to the heater box for maintaining the temperature of the enclosed area of the heater box above freezing temperature to prevent the condensate fluid from freezing; and (e) means for mounting the housing to the furnace adjacent the trap, wherein the inner edges of the side walls and the top wall of the housing contact the furnace for enclosing the trap within an enclosed space defined by the heater box, and wherein heat is retained within the heater box to prevent the condensate fluid from freezing. 
     
     
       11. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a bottom wall spanning the side walls and the front wall inwardly longitudinally spaced from their distal edges. 
     
     
       12. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the bottom wall is perforated to allow fluid to pass through. 
     
     
       13. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the heater comprises a silicone pad heater. 
     
     
       14. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising flanges at the inner edges of the side wall and the top wall. 
     
     
       15. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a hinge for hingedly securing the housing to an exterior wall of the furnace for pivoting movement between an open position away from the trap and a closed position enclosing the trap. 
     
     
       16. The freeze protection apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the pivot axis of the housing is about a substantially horizontal axis.